By Huck Allen: Jaime Munguia wants a title shot against IBF middleweight champion Gennadiy Golovkin after his stay busy fight this Saturday night on DAZN against D’Mitrius Ballard (21-0-1, 13 KOs) Plaza Monumental, Tijuana, Mexico.
Munguia has received criticism from boxing fans for choosing not to fight for a world title at 160, but he’s been dialed in for the GGG match-up since he made a move to middleweight in 2020.
Golovkin is older & beatable
With Golovkin nearing 40, Munguia feels his chances of success are excellent, which is why he’s pushing for the fight to happen now. Also, Munguia doesn’t have too much time left in his career, meaning it’s now or never for Jamie.
Munguia can’t wait for Golovkin to age, which some boxing fans believe Canelo Alvarez has been doing, without risking losing out on the fight entirely if he retires.
Munguia (38-0, 30 KOs) had the opportunity to fight Golovkin four years ago in 2018, but the Calfornia State Athletic Commission didn’t sanction the fight. Instead of him getting the fight with GGG, it was Vanes Martirosyan.
Munguia ready for Golovkin
Four years later, the 25-year-old Munguia believes he’s ready to face the 39-year-old Golovkin (41-1-2, 39 KOs), and he’d like his title shot later this year.
Munguia had the chance to challenge WBC middleweight champion Jermall Charlo and WBO champion Demetrius Andrade but chose instead to face the 28-year-old ‘Big Meech’ Ballard to stay sharp to get a bigger fight potentially against Golovkin.
While it may seem to some boxing fans that Munguia is spoiled and has a sense of entitlement, he’s got the popularity to pick & choose who he wants to fight. If Munguia didn’t have such a large following, he would have likely taken the fights Jermall or Boo Boo Andrade.
“If it were my choice, I would really like to fight Gennadiy Golovkin or the winner of Golovkin vs. Murata,” Munguia said to DAZN News.
“Facing Gennadiy Golovkin would be the biggest fight of my career,” Munguia continued. “Gennadiy is a massive name in the sport.
“That would be a massive fight for me. I think that it’s time for him, and I’m ready for that kind of fight. It would be a perfect fight.”
“D’Mitrius is an undefeated fighter,” Munguia said. “That’s difficult to do to be at this stage of his career and be still undefeated.”
Munguia has looked good lately since moving up to middleweight, beating these four excellent fighters:
- Gabe Rosado
- Kamil Szeremeta
- Tureano Johnson
- Gary O’Sullivan
Ballard isn’t good enough to show whether Munguia is ready for Golovkin, but it doesn’t matter if he’s prepared or not. Munguia must fight Golovkin now before he hangs up his gloves.
Golovkin is hoping to get a fight against Canelo in 2022, but that might not happen if the Mexican star chooses to go in the direction of a match against Jermall Charlo and then go up to 175 to take on champion Artur Beterbiev.
